EP0385877B1 - Cutlery basket for a dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cutlery rack for dishwashers.

Dishwashers are generally equipped with a cutlery rack which is most of the time made up of a removable basket with skeleton, this basket being compartmentalized and only open on top.

Such a cutlery basket is for example divided into six or eight compartments of the same dimensions, each compartment being capable of receiving a dozen cutlery in the "standing" position. Such a device is described in the French patent application for WHIRPOOL Corporation published under No. 2,037,217. The user places the cutlery in each of these compartments in a standing position, so that the handle of each cutlery, or at least most of it, inside the skeleton compartment, while its head, that is to say its actually dirty part, protrudes from the upper free face of this compartment.

These known cutlery racks have some drawbacks. It is indeed unpleasant for the user to have to handle the cutlery by their head, that is to say by their dirty part. In the case of knives or forks, the same user is likely to prick himself or injure himself as well when he places these cutlery in each compartment before washing as when he extracts them from them after this washing. In addition, the quality of washing is reduced by the presence of the mesh that encloses each cover, both on the bottom of each compartment and on its vertical walls: these too many mesh walls that form the basket are the result of a pressure drop not negligible.

In addition, with such an arrangement in these compartments, the cutlery of each compartment are freely spaced one against the other, so that it sometimes happens that they fit into each other, or stick together. to each other, either during installation or during washing, which is even more disadvantageous with regard to the pressure drop of the washing water flow, and finally with regard to the quality of the washing carried out.

It has been proposed to place, on baskets of this type, a horizontal and removable grid, the meshes of which are dimensioned to each receive a single cover. Such a grid solves the aforementioned problem of bonding or nesting of cutlery. On the other hand, it further increases the pressure drop, and in no way solves the problems of handling the cutlery by their heads, both when loading the basket before washing and when unloading the same basket after washing. In addition, it is not possible, with such a grid, to remove the cutlery in clusters after washing, which is likely to be poorly appreciated by the user in the sense that his job of emptying the dishwasher. it is then increased, as is then the emptying time.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. The cutlery rack for dishwashers according to the invention is of parallelepipedal and openwork shape and is characterized in that it is arranged in such a way that at least one of its large lateral faces is at least partially open, or can at least partially open and in that its upper part is provided in its plane with at least one means constituting open corridors on the open or openable side of the large side face, and making it possible to trap the cutlery at the level of their collar which separates their sleeve from their head. Preferably, each corridor has at least one semi-rigid strip or pin to trap the cutlery.

• la figure 1 montre, en vue perspective, une première forme de réalisation de ce râtelier, représenté en position debout ;
• Figure 2 montre de même une deuxième forme de réalisation du râtelier, représenté ici en position couchée, les couverts étant en cours de déchargement après le lavage ;
• Figure 3 montre une variante de réalisation du râtelier de la figure 2 ;
• Figure 4 est une autre variante de réalisation du râtelier de la figure 2 ;
• Figure 5 montre encore une autre forme de réalisation du râtelier de la figure 2 ;
• Figure 6 montre une autre forme de réalisation du râtelier, avec son mode particulier de fixation à l'avant d'un panier de lave-vaisselle ;
• Figure 7 montre comment s'effectue le blocage en position horizontale du râtelier de la figure 6 ;
• Figure 8 schématise de même l'opération de désolidarisation de ce même râtelier ; et
• Figures 9 à 12 montrent les phases successives d'ouverture, après un lavage au lave-vaisselle, du râtelier des figures 6 à 8.

In any case, the invention will be well understood, and its advantages and other characteristics will emerge during the following description of a few non-limiting examples of embodiment of this rack, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which:

• Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a first embodiment of this rack, shown in position standing ;
• Figure 2 similarly shows a second embodiment of the rack, shown here in the supine position, the cutlery being unloaded after washing;
• Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the rack of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is another alternative embodiment of the rack of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of the rack of Figure 2;
• Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the rack, with its particular method of attachment to the front of a dishwasher basket;
• Figure 7 shows how to lock in the horizontal position of the rack of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 shows schematically the same operation of separation of the same rack; and
• Figures 9 to 12 show the successive stages of opening, after washing in the dishwasher, the rack of Figures 6 to 8.

Referring first to Figure 1, it is a cutlery rack openwork, generally parallelepiped shape, and provided, as is often the case for cutlery racks for washing dishes, a handle 1.

This rack is special in that its two large side faces are open. Furthermore, its upper part 2, which includes the upper face of the parallelepiped, is provided with a fairly large number (twenty six in this case) of rows of strips 3 at a free end, or pins. These strips, or pins, 3 are semi-rigid, and together they define thirteen lanes 4, mutually parallel, located in the plane of the upper face of the rack and parallel to its short sides 5. The strips 3 of each lane 4 are arranged so as to define between them aligned boxes of imprisonment one by one of the covers 6, so that each corridor 4, which is open, as can be seen in the drawing, on the side of the large lateral face 7 closest to the observer, is capable of receive a maximum of four place settings 6 placed one behind the other. These cutlery 6 are introduced one by one through the free entrance of each corridor 4, and each of them is then trapped, at the level of the neck 8 separating their sleeve 9 from their head 10 (in the case of forks or spoons, and not kitchen knives which do not have, as for them, no neck), in all four slats 3 defining between them a compartment for receiving a cutlery 6. Each pair of slats 3 in vis- vis-à-vis is consequently separated from the following, in the same corridor 4, by a relative spacing capable of allowing each cover 6 to be trapped, and only one, all along this corridor 4.

With the rack of Figure 1, the introduction of each cover 6 in the rack is carried out laterally, by the wide open face 7. The user then naturally holds this cover by its handle 9, and not by its dirty part and sharp, or pungent. Each cutlery is trapped at its neck 8, and it is physically clearly separated from the other cutlery. The cutlery is therefore spaced from each other, which provides effective washing. The two large side faces of the rack being open, the washing water can easily circulate, which improves the washing efficiency all the more. It should be noted in this regard that at least one retaining bar 11, shown in phantom in the drawing, can advantageously be provided on the large rear lateral face of this rasp-tie.

The removal of the cutlery after washing can be carried out easily and quickly, the cutlery being able to be grasped by clusters and by their handle, through the large lateral face 7. It should also be noted that the user does not run not risk getting pricked or cut and the storing cutlery in their usual drawer (in the cabinet or kitchen unit) can be done very quickly and conveniently.

This rack can be used as a conventional cutlery rack for dishwashers, finding its place in the upright position (Figure 1) in a place in the lower (or upper) basket of the dishwasher, this place being provided for this purpose. It is capable of being produced in very numerous variants, some of which are remarkable in that they make it very practical for the user to fix the rack in the dishwasher so that it can be tilted horizontally for loading and unloading operations.

The rack in Figure 2 differs from that previously described in that its large rear side face 12, opposite the open face 7 above, is fully screened, so that it supports the sleeves 9 of cutlery 6 if the as in this FIG. 2, the rack is placed in a horizontal position, with its face 7 facing upwards.

Two side buttons 14 are provided to allow the rack to be hooked to the top of hairpin fasteners 15 provided for this purpose in the dishwasher. This rack can therefore be easily tilted horizontally for loading and unloading cutlery, washing is obviously and conventionally carried out with the rack in the standing position.

By way of illustration, the rack of FIG. 2 is such that its corridors 4 each consist of a single row of strips 3, and not of two rows of strips facing each other, as for the rack of FIG. 1: a cover cell is only delimited in this case by two strips 3 instead of four.

• . Sa grande face arrière grillagée 12 est pourvue de parois ou murets 16, qui sont orthogonaux aux couloirs 4 précités ; ces murets 16 donnent une meilleure tenue au râtelier et procurent une meilleure séparation des couverts.
• . La grande face avant précitée 7 peut recevoir une grille coulissante de fermeture 17, qui est d'ailleurs dans cet exemple totalement amovible.

The rack of Figure 3, which is shown placed on a work table of a fitted kitchen, by example very close to the cutlery storage drawer, is similar to that of figure 2. Compared to the latter, it nevertheless presents two small improvements:

• . Its large screened rear face 12 is provided with walls or walls 16 which are orthogonal to the aforementioned corridors 4; these low walls 16 give a better hold to the rack and provide better separation of the cutlery.
• . The aforementioned large front face 7 can receive a sliding closing grid 17, which is, moreover, in this example completely removable.

• . les lamelles 3 et les couloirs 4 à compartiments précités sont réalisés par une grille amovible 18, moulée d'une seule pièce ;
• . une barrette souple de fermeture 19 est prévue afin de s'opposer à l'extraction latérale des couverts au cours du lavage ; cette barrette 19 pourrait être remplacée par une ceinture amovible entourant la face supérieure du râtelier, et jouant à la fois un rôle de maintien solide de la grille 18 et un rôle d'emprisonnement des couverts.

The rack in Figure 4 has two interesting features:

• . the strips 3 and the corridors 4 with the aforementioned compartments are produced by a removable grid 18, molded in one piece;
• . a flexible closing bar 19 is provided in order to oppose the lateral extraction of the cutlery during washing; this bar 19 could be replaced by a removable belt surrounding the upper face of the rack, and playing both a solid holding role of the grid 18 and a role of trapping cutlery.

The rack in Figure 5 differs from that in Figure 4 in that its handle 1 is sliding, so as to take up less space in height in the dishwasher and possibly allow it to be stored directly in a drawer, and by the fact that it is provided with side buttons 14 which are arranged, in combination with the associated fasteners 15, to allow not only the tilting of the rack horizontally, but also its extraction by lifting when it is in a standing position (i.e. in a vertical position).

A last embodiment is shown in Figures 6 to 8. It is a rack which is arranged to be fixed, tiltably and removably, on the front face of the upper or lower basket 20 of the dishwasher. It is provided for this purpose an auxiliary support 21 which is fixed on the basket 20 by means of hooks 22 provided for molding for this purpose.

• assurer le maintien du râtelier en position verticale (figure 6) ;
• assurer, après basculement dans le sens anti-horaire et légère traction vers l'utilisateur, le maintien du râtelier en position horizontale (figure 7) ;
• permettre, après rotation d'un quart de tour dans le sens horaire d'une pièce 26 de fermeture de la lumière 24, l'extraction du râtelier, c'est-à-dire sa désolidarisation du panier 20 (figure 8).

On each of the lateral faces 23 of the support 21 is made a lumen 24 in the form of a frying pan which cooperates with a slender lateral bulge 25 of the rack for:

• keep the rack upright (Figure 6);
• ensure, after tilting anti-clockwise and slight traction towards the user, maintaining the rack in a horizontal position (Figure 7);
• allow, after a quarter-turn clockwise rotation of a part 26 for closing the lumen 24, the extraction of the rack, that is to say its separation from the basket 20 (FIG. 8).

Like the rack in Figure 3, this rack is provided with a sliding grid 17 for closing the large side face by which the introduction and removal of cutlery. At the bottom of the rack, this sliding grid 17 is provided with a grip handle 27. Its opposite side is provided with a flat retaining bar 28 which, as seen in FIG. 6, opposes the opening of this grid 27 when the rack is placed on its support 21 in a vertical position (due to the complementary shape of this support 21). On the other hand, as can be seen in FIG. 7, it is possible to open this grid 17, when this same rack is tilted and locked in the horizontal high position.

Figures 9 to 12 show how the tilting and opening of this rack are carried out very quickly, for example after washing for unloading cutlery, or before washing for loading.

As shown in FIG. 9, the user first of all conventionally slides, by pulling it towards him, the basket 20 towards the outside of the dishwasher tank. Then he grasps the aforementioned lower handle 27 (FIG. 10), and tilt the rack horizontally (Figure 11). He then pulls this handle to him to slide the grid 17 and thus open the rack (Figure 12).

Of course, reclosing and replacing the rack is done by reverse operations.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the few exemplary embodiments which have just been described, and on the contrary quite encompasses other equivalent embodiments.

Claims (13)

1. A cutlery basket for a dishwasher, said basket being parallelepipedic and having a grid structure, characterized in that it is arranged in such a way that at least one of its large lateral surfaces (7) is at least partially open or may be at least partially opened, and that its upper part (2) is supplied in its plane with at least one means (3) constituting passageways (4) which open out into the open side surface (7) or the side which may be opened and which allow the cutlery pieces to be imprisoned at the level of their neck (8) separating their handle (9) from their head (10).
2. A cutlery basket according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (3) is constituted by at least one lamella or barb.
3. A cutlery basket according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one lamella (3) or barb for imprisoning the pieces of cutlery is semi-rigid.
4. A cutlery basket according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one of its large lateral surfaces (7) is completely open in order to allow pieces of cutlery to be inserted and withdrawn, whereas its other large lateral surface is provided with at least one retaining bar (11).
5. A cutlery basket according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one of its large lateral surfaces (7) is completely open in order to allow pieces of cutlery (6) to be inserted and withdrawn, whereas its other large lateral surface (12) is grid-shaped.
6. A cutlery basket according to claim 5, characterized in that its grid-shaped large surface (12) is provided with walls or partitions (16) which are orthogonal to the passageways (4) for inserting and maintaining the pieces of cutlery.
7. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said large lateral surface (7) through which the pieces of cutlery (6) are inserted is able to receive a sliding closure grid (17).
8. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a retractable handle (1).
9. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with buttons (14) or lateral bosses (25) susceptible to cooperate with supports (15, 21) mounted to this end on the dishwasher in order to allow the basket to be tilted to a horizontal position.
10. A cutlery basket according to claim 9, characterized in that these supports (15, 21) and these buttons (14) or bosses (25) are further conceived to allow the basket to be disengaged.
11. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its large lateral surface (7) which may be opened is provided with a sliding closure grid (10) which may not be opened as long as the basket is in a vertical position and which is supplied with a lower prehension handle (27) by which the basket can be tilted to the horizontal position and by which it may be opened in this horizontal position.
12. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part comprising the passageways (4) is constituted by a removable grid (18).
13. A cutlery basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is supplied with a bar (19) or a closure belt for closing the upper part susceptible to avoid the extraction of pieces of cutlery (6) from the basket as long as it is closed.

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